engine

Pluralengines

Formsengines, engining, engined

1. 1
   motornouncountable

   A machine that uses fuel or power to make things move, like the one in a car.

   Like the heart of a car: it gives the power that makes everything move.

   Dad lifted the hood to check the engine.

   Our old car's engine makes a loud noise when it starts.

   UsageYou start and turn off an engine. An electric one is usually called a motor.

2. 2
   softwarenouncountable

   A computer program or part that does one main job, like searching or showing pictures.

   Like one worker on a team who does only one special job.

   The search engine found thousands of pages in one second.

   This game runs on a new graphics engine.

   UsageUsually with a job word first: search engine, game engine.

   Note
3. 3
   key playernouncountable

   A person or group that pushes a bigger group forward and makes things happen.

   Maria is the engine of our team, always pushing us to do more.

   The student club became the engine behind the school's recycling program.

   UsageSay the engine of a team or the engine behind a plan.

   Similardynamo, powerhouse, driver, heart

   Note
4. 4
   locomotivenouncountable

   The vehicle with the motor that pulls or pushes a train along the track.

   Like the horse at the front of a wagon, pulling everything behind it.

   The engine pulled twenty cars up the mountain.

   The children loved watching the big red engine pull into the station.

5. 5
   way to achievenouncountable

   Anything that a person uses to get something done.

   The new law became an engine for change in the city.

   Tourism is the engine that keeps our small town's shops open.

   UsageOften an engine of or for change.

   Similarinstrument, device, agent, means

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 13